Tag: mara jade

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Readers have no love for the catsuit, either; First look at Mara in the Essential Reader’s Companion

Not a lot of love for the catsuit round these parts this week. On Tumblr, Molly approached the outfit from a costumer’s perspective, and Ellen Hyde pointed out that it and the Jabba’s dancer outfit are the only Mara costumes recognized by the 501st – while you can get into the Rebel Legion with the green Visions of the Future getup, it’s not that many options. I realize the costuming organizations have to draw the line somewhere, but maybe the 501st will OK the Choices of One version one day?

But I do have a treat for you! Del Rey editor Erich Schoeneweiss has generously shared with us a piece of Mara artwork from Pablo Hidalgo’s Essential Reader’s Companion, which is due out October 2. It’s by Darren Tan and shows Mara’s first encounter with the Yuuzhan Vong in Vector Prime – and no, she’s not in the catsuit. Check it out under the cut.

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A brief history of Mara Jade’s catsuit – and why I’m sick of it

Every Star Wars character has an iconic outfit or two. (Or twenty. Hey, Padme.) Obi-Wan has his Jedi robes, Han Solo has his bloodstripe pants and vest, Boba Fett has his armor. Hell, even Chewbacca has his bandolier.

When it comes to Expanded Universe characters – at least those that derive from books, as opposed to more visual mediums like games or comics – things get a little trickier. Authors generally don’t go for detailed descriptions of clothing, so it’s usually pretty up in the air… At least until someone gets on a book cover, or makes an appearance in a comic book. Which is how Mara Jade got the black leather catsuit that has become – like it or not – her trademark.

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Is this our first look at Her Universe’s Mara Jade shirt?

…I’m guessing yes. Ashley Eckstein writes on this Celebration sneak peek: “This strong female character with Red hair, may have her own awesome shirt.” And who else goes sleeveless with a beige cape?

This is an Instagram photo with a filter, so don’t be too quick to judge on coloring… Though I’m afraid the jumpsuit was inevitable.

Ashley said in February that Her Universe was working with artist Cat Staggs on a Mara shirt for Celebration.

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Celebration VI: The rancor is coming!

Special guests The 501st is bringing a rancor to Orlando. Built out of foam by Pizzazz Scenic Contractors, Roxy the Rancor will be avaliable for folks to take pictures with. (Not, alas, wrestling.)

Panels. Still waiting on the schedule, but here’s something new and different: Historian Cole Horton and illustrators Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas will present From World War to Star Wars. The panel, held in the University Room (also new!) will “give fans a rare look into the in-universe parallels and real-world connections between the Second World War and the Star Wars Universe.” This is definitely more of the type of panel I was hoping to see, so it bodes well for the rest of the schedule, I think.

Merchandise. Jedi News’ Justin LaSalata shared the CVI Store’s merchandise order form. Of note for us: The 6″ Mara Jade statue will be available on Thursday for $85.

Also, be sure to vote in our latest sidebar poll!

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SDCC roundup: Everything Star Wars

Comic-Con is over, and it’s time for a nap. (Damn you, Monday!) James’ pictures from Sunday begin here. Meanwhile, for those of you not online all weekend, here’s what went down for Star Wars. Some of these have had rather substantial updates after they were first posted!

Expanded Universe. Our focus, the books and comics, got some pretty big bombs dropped. Namely, we heard about our latest post-Fate of the Jedi novel, Crucible by Troy Denning, at the Star Wars books and comics panel. (James taped it! Others live-tweeted!)

Earlier, we had news of Star Wars, a new comic scripted by Brian Wood. It’s provoked plenty of discussion, both for the usual continuity issues and putting Leia in an X-Wing.

We’re also getting Vader’s Little Princess, a Leia-centric followup to Darth Vader and Son, and a Dawn of the Jedi novel by Tim Lebbon. There will be more book announcements at Celebration VI.

James also did an interview with John Jackson Miller, which is up over at Big Shiny Robot.

The Clone Wars. Lots of season 5 tidbits dropped, and the premiere will debut at Celebration VI.

Merchandise. Still nothing from Sideshow on their long-promised Mara Jade figure, but we did learn that a Mara mini-fig we saw at Celebration V is going into production as a Celebration VI store exclusive. It was also announced that Kotobukiya is going to do a Bishoujo Mara Jade, and Hasbro’s Jedi Mara figure will be in Wave 2 of the Droid Factory line. ‘

In other, less Mara news, Master Replicas is launching a Jedi costume line. Check out all that new Her Universe stuff!

Also. Course of the Force; Random House Audio bringing their fanfic-reading contest to CVI.

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EUbits: Kotobukiya is going to Bishoujo Mara Jade, Star Wars Reads day

Namesake corner. Reports out of SDCC are saying that Kotobukiya’s next Star Wars Bishoujo statue will be none other than Mara Jade. (NOT the figure at right; see below.) Here’s hoping they show the same restraint they did with their Jaina Solo, though I’m guessing the catsuit will be anything but optional.

UPDATE #1: Here’s the Mara slide from Kotobukiya’s presentation… It features art from the cover of Sacrifice, not an original sketch. Maybe at CVI? Meanwhile, Hasbro has listed their Jedi Mara figure for Wave 2 of the Droid Factory line.

Meanwhile, the official Celebration store will have a Mara mini state one day at Celebration VI. I wonder if it will be the never-produced Mara statue that Star Wars Shop was showing off at Celebration V?

UPDATE #2 (7/15:) Rebelscum has pictures from the Collector’s Panel, and it looks like I was right on the Mara mini-figure being the one (above) from CV! As well as Darth Bane (see comments,) plus a Quinlan Vos.

Events. Lucasfilm and its publishers have announced a a national Star Wars Reads Day for October 6. Bookstores and libraries who participate will get a free event kit, plus I suspect the 501st and Rebel Legion will be all over this.

The blogside. Tricia Barr and the late Racheal Ambrose discuss the Hapans; Topless Robot picks the best and worst of Marvel Star Wars

Interviews. Star Wars Book Report talks to Mike Stackpole, while Mark at Jedi News has a chat with John Jackson Miller.

Summer for Children’s Literacy. EUC is offering free bookmarks for the summer reading program.

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Why do we want more women highlighted in the Expanded Universe?

This is not the post I set out to write when I asked the other day which Star Wars ladies should be headlining novels. After all, Nanci already quite eloquently laid out why we need more women in the Expanded Universe. But on Friday, EUC posted a rebuttal to her post, titled Let’s Stop Thinking About Gender and it seems there’s still more work to do on the ground level. I know, I was shocked, too. Though I probably shouldn’t be.

Clearly we’ve forgotten that Star Wars is aimed at boys! And that by asking for something as minor as a female characters whose functions include something other than being Big Bad Lady Cthulu or Confused Teenage Girlfriend makes us the sexist ones! For shame, ladies. For shame. Because we’ve never heard anything like this before.

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Tosche Station wants you, fan artists and costumers, to help them replace Mara Jade’s catsuit

Many of us Mara Jade fans have never really been big fans of character’s ‘default’ outfit, the leather catsuit. And Tosche Station has finally has it:

By the Gods of Kobol, we hate the catsuit. It’s objectifying, it’s demeaning. Mara’s a character whose innate personality makes her engaging. She doesn’t need to wear a skintight outfit that’s woefully ill-suited to combat to get fans to like her.

So, they’re having a contest! Come up with a more appropriate outfit for Mara and you could win some books. And/or the gratitude of Mara fans!

Here are a few existing fanworks that just may fit the criteria: Mara in robes, in a jacket, in a turtleneck, (!!) steampunk (well, at least it’s different,) in a flight suit and inspired by one of the Japanese covers. Be inspired, but don’t copy!

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EUbits: Delving into Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse, again

Fate of the Jedi. If you haven’t finished Apocalypse yet, don’t click any of the links in this section, because they are chock-full of spoilers! Over at Lightsaber Rattling, Pete Morrison takes a look at the state of the Expanded Universe post-Fate of the Jedi. (Always-relevant musical interlude: Where do we go from here?)

There are also some new reviews from The Galactic Drift, Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’, and The EU, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Also, if you’re in the mood for some snark, I live-tweeted my reading of the book, and then rambled at length about it on my Livejournal. My review, in brief: Meh.

Namesake corner A custom Clone Wars style Mara Jade action figure! I’ve made no secret of not being a fan of the style, but this is pretty nifty, I must admit. And she doesn’t look like Giada DeLaurentiis!

Author talk. Dan Wallace posts his endnotes for the Book of Sith.

Excerpts. A mini for Jeff Grubb’s Scourge. It’s our next new novel release, coming April in paperback.

Gaming. One of our readers, Annalee, has a good write-up at the Geek Feminism blog on issues in The Old Republic.

Comics. James gives a thumbs up to the twists in Agent of the Empire: Iron Eclipse #4, and Zayne digging himself in deep in Knights of the Old Republic: War #3.